As the new year starts, you might consider a new career or aspire to pursue a lifelong dream in the Beauty or Aesthetic industry. The starting point for those interested and new to the beauty/aesthetic field is a relevant Level 2 qualification!
This blog will compare our most popular Level 2 qualifications: VTCT Level 2 Facial and Skincare course vs VTCT Level 2 Beauty Therapy Course. We will compare these two courses as they are excellent entry-level options that allow immediate working opportunities and further access to more advanced qualifications; they are also very different! So, if you’re wondering which course is right for you – read on as we highlight the similarities and differences to identify which course is most suitable for you!
Let’s understand the courses in depth!
The VTCT Level 2 Facial & Skin care Course
Our most popular course for beginners interested in pursuing a career in the Beauty industry, with a strong interest in Aesthetics and plans to pursue advanced aesthetic training.
The following modules are incorporated into a fast-track course that runs for just six weeks and will enable learners to work as a junior facial specialist upon completion:
- Facial Massage and Skincare
- Health, Safety and Hygiene of the workplace
- Client Care, Communication and Salon Reception Duties
As the course is suitable for novices, you will learn all the basics in-depth to thoroughly understand the skin, face, scalp and neck. The teachings include health, safety, hygiene, facial analysis, skin types, anatomy, and physiology. Learners will also develop professional facial skills, which include cleansing, extraction, steaming, and mixing various facial masks.
The VTCT Level 2 Beauty Therapy Course
It is the perfect course for those who want to work as a junior therapist or progress into the Level 3 Beauty Therapy course. The course is ideal for learners generally interested in all aspects of Beauty Therapy – manicures, pedicures, facials, lash & brow treatments and waxing techniques!
Despite the 22-week course duration, this course is still a Fast Track version, as other colleges typically teach the course contents over one year. This fully comprehensive course is designed for those without experience or prior beauty qualification, as you will learn everything you need over the 22 weeks! Students enrolled on our Level 2 Beauty Therapy course will complete the following modules:
- Facials Massage, and Skincare
- Lash Lift/ Lash Perming
- Eyelash and Eyebrow Tinting/ Shaping
- Hot and warm Waxing
- Manicure, pedicure and nail treatment
- Health, safety and hygiene of the workplace
- Client Care, Communication, Salon Reception Duties
- Consultation Techniques and Retail Skills
As you can see, the course also covers the facial massage and skincare module taught in the Level 2 Facial and Skincare course. Therefore, it is also suitable for those who would like to pursue an Aesthetics career but would still like to learn all the basics of Beauty Therapy.
Level 2 Facial and Skincare & Level 2 Beauty Therapy Course Similarities
Let’s delve into the common points between the Level 2 Facial and Skincare and Level 2 Beauty Therapy courses at Ray Cochrane:
1) Suitable for beginners
Whether you are interested in the facial or beauty therapy option, you don’t need any prior experience or training to enrol in the course. The entry requirements for both are that interested participants should be over 18 and have a good command of written and spoken English.
2) Accredited training and globally recognised certification
On both the Level 2 Facial and Level 2 Beauty Therapy taught at Ray Cochrane, the award is accredited by VTCT. The Vocational Training Charitable Trust is a globally recognised awarding body that develops qualifications that meet the demands of the designated industry and employers, in this case, the beauty industry. Their “stamp of approval” proves to employers that learners who have completed their qualification have trained to the highest standard! Ray Cochrane is an approved centre of VTCT, which means they support our high-quality delivery of their qualifications.
3) Immediate job opportunities upon completion
When choosing which course is right for you and your future career, of course, you have to consider the job prospects they will bring. Those who complete the Level 2 Beauty Therapy or the Level 2 Facial and Skincare can work immediately upon certification. The available job opportunities will obviously differ depending on your training, but regardless, you can start looking for a job instantly.
Once you have your certification, you can work in salons, spas, hotels, retail beauty or even become an entrepreneur! The options are endless, with a highly sought-after skill.
4) Gateway to Level 3 courses
To progress to the Level 3 Beauty Therapy course or Level 3 Facial Electrical course, you need a relevant Level 2 qualification. The good news is you can use your Level 2 Beauty/Facial qualification to advance to your chosen Level 3 course!
At Ray Cochrane, you can use either a Level 2 Facial qualification or Level 2 Beauty Therapy qualification to move on to our Level 3 Beauty Therapy course. However, it is essential to note that you may not be able to use our Level 2 facial and skincare qualification to progress to another college’s Level 3 Beauty Therapy qualification. It will depend on their entry requirements, which some require you to complete the waxing training only found in Level 2 Beauty Therapy.
Level 2 Facial and Skincare & Level 2 Beauty Therapy Course Differences
Let’s understand the differences between Level 2 Facial & Skincare vs Level 2 Beauty Therapy in detail.
1) Course duration
The Level 2 Facial and Skincare course runs for six weeks, one day a week, whilst the Level 2 Beauty Therapy course runs for 22 weeks, also one day a week! They are both part-time courses that allow learners to continue their work alongside learning but their durations differ.
If you are looking for a short course to kickstart your career in the facial/aesthetic industry, then the Level 2 would be suitable. Still, if you are looking for an in-depth course to help you understand all the different components behind beauty therapy and the varying treatments, you could benefit from the 22 weeks!
2) Modules covered
There are eight modules to complete on the Level 2 Beauty Therapy course, whilst there are only 3 Level 2 Facial and Skincare courses. There are some crossovers in modules, such as Client Care, Communication, and Salon Reception Duties, which are fundamental skills that learners will need regardless of what route they take in their careers.
As the name suggests, the Level 2 Facial and Skincare course only focuses on teaching learners the theoretical understanding and practical treatments of the neck, face and scalp. However, the Level 2 Beauty Therapy course will cover the whole body, from head to toe.
3) Certification received upon completion
For both courses, you are continuously assessed through practical and theoretical assessments as you complete each module throughout your learning journey. Compiled into a series of case studies, these assessments, alongside your tutor’s feedback, will form your portfolio, which is marked internally and externally before you receive your certification.
For the Level 2 Facial and Skincare course, upon completion, you will receive a VTCT (NVQ) Level 2 Award in Facial Massage and Skincare. Completing the Level 2 Beauty Therapy course will earn you the VTCT (NVQ) Level 2 Diploma in Beauty Therapy Studies.
4) Potential career pathways
As mentioned earlier, you may already know that you only have a passion for facial skincare and advanced aesthetic treatments, such as chemical skin peels and laser treatment. Therefore, your career aspiration is to become an Advanced Aesthetic practitioner. To become a qualified Advanced Aesthetic Therapist, complete the Level 2 facial and Skincare. Then the Level 3 Facial Electrotherapy course before moving on to our Level 4 Laser and IPL, Level 4 chemical peel and Level 4 Microneedling courses. As an Aesthetician, you can open your aesthetic clinic, work as a Laser therapist or even become a freelance Aesthetician abroad.
However, if you want to be a versatile Beauty Therapist, you will need the Level 2 and Level 3 Beauty Therapy diplomas, which you can then choose to go on to study Level 4 courses. As a Beauty Therapist, you can work in any spa or salon in the UK or internationally. We’ve also had students enrol on our Beauty Therapy courses as they want to start their beauty salon and want to understand the treatments they will offer clients fully.
Why Kickstart Your Beauty/Facial Journey With Ray Cochrane?
Sum Up, a financial company that supports business owners with payment solutions found that beauty salons were amongst the top ten most in-demand local businesses in the UK, coming in second place. So, there has never been a better time to start your beauty career than now!
Ray Cochrane Beauty Aesthetics Academy is London’s leading beauty and Aesthetics training provider. We are committed to delivering our students the highest quality training and support. Part of that commitment is to help potential students fully understand our courses and how they can utilise them to achieve their beauty career aspirations.
We hope this blog has answered all your questions so you can make the right decision for yourself and your future. We know that big choices such as enrolling in a new course will require a lot of thought. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions! Our school is open Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm. You can contact us by phone at 020 3856 8886 or email us at admission@raycochrane.studiocoact.co.uk.
No question is too big or too small for our expert course enrolment specialists!
